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'Cybertongue' to transform milk market, aid lactose-free dairy

A "cybertongue" that can rapidly detect lactose and spoiled milk, developed by Australia's Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO), has now been licensed to PPB Technology.

The next-generation diagnostic tool uses biological sensors to detect substances like lactose on the spot, CSIRO said, and it has potentially game-changing applications across food safety, environmental monitoring and human health.

Former CSIRO researcher and PPB Technology founder Dr. Stephen Trowell said the company would first focus on the tool’s diagnostic potential in the dairy industry, detecting lactose and spoilage enzymes in milk.

"We are seeing a growing number of people in Australia and around the world preferring lactose-free dairy alternatives," Trowell said. "The global market for these products is set to grow to $15 billion over the next six years.

"For milk processors, current diagnostic methods for lactose are expensive, and it can take up to a week to receive results, causing costs and delays for processors and increasing prices for consumers," he added. "By using a special biosensor for lactose, the Cybertongue technology provides accurate and close to real-time measurements anywhere in the production line, meaning products can be distributed sooner without risking product quality."

CSIRO is developing future sensors for wider applications of Cybertongue as part a formal strategic partnership between CSIRO and PPB Technology, the agency announced.

"The unique way we have built the technology means we can develop sensors that detect a wide range of substances, including toxins, allergens and enzymes," senior CSIRO researcher Dr. Alisha Anderson said.

This means the technology can be applied to a range of applications and industries such as food, environmental monitoring, biosecurity and human health.

"In human health, this technology could mean potentially fatal health conditions like sepsis could be diagnosed in just a few minutes rather than current methods, which take a few hours, potentially leading to faster and more effective treatment," Anderson said. "It could also be used for the early diagnosis of some cancers.